Southern telegraph., January 08, 1836, Image 1

About Southern telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1834-1838

Image provided by: Mississippi Department of Archives and History

                
WMHm
-lie that v ill nat reason, in a. bljoi: lie- Ilia t cannot, in a foal; and be thai dare not, iu a ln .'
oiitiH 2.
R0D2TBT, c.::co rr.iD.4. i no r. o, jaittrt e, iC36.
dumber 48.
THE SOUTHERN TE LECR A I II
ib (.ditHi and resuMta trm fsiai bv ,
TItOUlS B. 1' I . 'I : ; : .
At Fl K IK),I,AKS per tear, in aJ: unr,", or
SIX at the expiration of the year.
.Nj .S'uAcriifio;u rectii td fur a sbnrttrpt
i.jJ titan one year.
Term of .tavrrtioln.
Per square of ten lilies or Ic-s, lur the fir-t in
sertion, One Dollar; for each additional isscr-
tioii, i'il't Cent..
Ixiup r Jo?, ten cents per line for (lie fir-t,
nnd five ceats per line for each additional inter
ti m. '
(pTo those who adverti-e by the year, a
l.hemldiscoiint will he made.
PMtTHV.
it
There
sing.
Thcr
n MttU preUiaOM iii the jen iu
liiilc Mng about Utile things, which
.Iltiuny QaHjMt rUier,
ill, iiinl she wore a tittle
was a little i
bonnet,
And she hail a Httie linger, with a little ring
. upouit;
Ami what's a little odd, her little heart was then
In love, but Lot u little, with the hot oflitllu men.
For the little youth had exercised his little
at'ring tongue,
ml down before her little feet, hia little knees
hail llutigj
lie pressed her little hand, and in bet little lace
' h u-nzed,
And looked u Uratica ait 1 i 1 1 lc ksai d had brtn a
luUc erjuwd, -
warning
liltle
Alas! her little lover did with liltle
leave' her,
And she found Mi liltle better than n
deceiver j
Then in a little tioment, stirlng all her little
aishot,
Shloeklutle jump all above the little nMics.
Now ull ye little nilTbien', whose little love
sgrnw fonder,
Upon the litlfc mural of this little si
ponder j
Beware of little trinket', liltle men, and littl
sichs ;
For yon til lie know what great things (tea little
thills mil) rise.
imst i.i.i, ijseoi s.
; ariti Scenes, Characters, &c.
A friend in Georgia ha lent us a kittle work
rf the above title. Wttifth we have read with infi
liite plea-lire. (If all the efforts loch have been
made to cut eh the Suuthepi dialect, a- coHtru-
his r flc the Soap ttick, and that be was
very confident of winning beef with Iter, or
which is nearly, but not quite tho game
thing, driring the cross )rith hir.'
" Well, " said I, "if the hsnttng match
is not too far out of my way. Ill ma to it with
pleasure).
" I nless yotntwny lies through tlie woods
from here, " laid Hilly, " it'll not ho much
ou t of your lira) j for it's only a mile ahead
l us, an. I there in Re) oilier mad KM yo i In
tilkc, tii! you get there; and as th itlhnij;
you're riding m ain't well tutted In fatal
travelling, among brush knobs, I reckon
you won't li.se much, bv going by. I reckon
yon hardly ever as at a si, , male!:,
stranger, from the cut of jour coal?"
"(Hi u'-,-' returned L" ucny a lime, b
"'n ! .t'at one. when ferns han'iv old c
11 nili u. hold a Ph't viinoMfMt;"'
Children donl go to shooting matches
about here," said lie with a smiie of incred
ibility. " 1 never heard of but one that did,
and he was a little .v;ric-cat. lie area
born a shooting, and killed squirrels before
he waa weened. "
vior did ever hear of hut one,"' replied
I, "ami tkal one vas myself."
" And here did you win beef so young,
stranger!
"At JJetry Adams'. "
" Why stop, imager, let me look nt you
good. Is your name fjfaiim Hal.?"
"The very same," said I.
, " Well, dang my Luttons, if you ain't the
very boy tty daddy used to tell me about. 1
was too young to recoliect you myself; but
i ve beard daddy talk a
nine, i beneve inamun
korcluci now, (hat daddy won on your shoo
ling at Ciilleo It .; id's store, when you were
hardly knee high. Come along Lyman, aad
I'll go my death upon you at the shooting
match, with old Uoap slick at your shoul
der." " Ah Billy, " said I, the Soap stick will
do much better for your own thonlder. I;
waa my rnuther notion, that sent me to die
The lreef was not pre ent, nor is it ever
on such oerasiraM; but leretal of tlieompa
ny had se( ii it, who ail c. incurred in the
pinion that it Waa a go.id beef, and well
worth the price that tv is set apoa it eleven
dollars. A general iuayiiry ran round, m
order to form some opinion as to the number
tf shots that would be taken ttt of awwasj
the price of i shot is cheapened in protHV
iion to the increase nftbatnunthtw, It was
so in aecwrtaiaed thai n t inure ilum twenty
persons would I ike eltMtesjaj but ihoctucn-
Kiss my iaMtj anil Mealy. "Th-iiin tnif lv relieved from anxiety by ml picy dictated hat I should fire with a
I'l rn'i'ii tnt,Tlii) l.nlLtti.. n :.t " mir.nl u.tnr.ti c. ........ I f..i. I...I... r I...l.f nl t n t . . ..... a 1 .
ed to take the iiLiuiucr ot shots, at
five cents each.
competitors now began to give in
bout vou many a
's not a neck-hand-
(lisliii.,ni lied ll'iim
' TiinTiletstv Sticcesbf
i''i f, tlii- i- (he Ollll
oni. t Kilt luis lullsn iimler
our oh-erviition. Tiie sli riis w hich are told bv
i In n'lif iliM.-w' 1. ' i i. Imvu iiit in i r -hi Iff mr.
quaJntaace with the common walks of lite aad a
soul for fun. Wb give the following as'n ipecf
men of hi - power. Fverv man who hai had a
riile iii Ida baudi cannot fail to be doUgfc ed with
it. To the Hvnttrt of Knttiirki it Will be a real
treat: Frantyart (Ky.) Co mtnonnetaUk'
s'riiK ciioo t i.Mi
Phootini; matches an; probably nearh Co
ill with the oojoniztttron ofGeoraia, Tbov
ill common throughout the ti nithern
atcs; thouffh they are not ai eoiumoii as
they were twen'v-fi.c or tllifty year;- ago.
Cbatice led nic to one about a year no. 1
was (ravelling in one of the north-eastern
countries, when I overlook a awartliv , bright
I c
are
i m
shootin r iiMitch at Bcrrv Adiiiiiri"': nnd to tail
you the honest truth, it was tkugether a
chance shot that made mo w in heel"; but
that wa.-'nt gcnerallv known ; and most eve
ry body believed thai 1 Was carried there
un account ot my skill in slim. ting; and my
lame was spread far and wide, 1 remember.
1 remember top, very weH-, your lather bet
on me at the store.' J"r was at the ihooting
match, and nothing could make me believe,
but that I waa a great shot with a ride, as
well OS a shot gun. llet he would, on me.
in spite of ail 1 could say; though I assured
him, that I hail never gj)ot u rifle in my life.
It so b.ppencd too, that ;!irr were but two
bu!.!, or rather, a UvlJot and aJjaJfjand p.'
confident was ydnffuther in my ski!!, tlml
lie made me shoo; the half bullet ;"iul strange
to tell, by B Bother chance tbot I like to have
drove the cross, and won hiti bet."
"Now i know you're the very chap; fo;'
1 heard daddy (ell that very thing abcjUt life
hall' bullet. 1) n't s n any thing about it,
Lyman, and darn m old shoes if 1 don't
!iire the lint oil' the boy a with you at the
shooting in : teli. They'll never 'spec! such
a looking m in as you are of
thing abuat a riiie. I'd ri
'l'h
their BfJiftaj assjte fur one, some fur two,
OHM for three, and a few for us many a
four shots.
Billy Curlew Ir.ut'r back to the last; and
when t':t lit was olfored to lulu, tivo biuA
remained undisposed of.
f How man.- dots kf ?" inquired Biiiy.
Five: "'was tho rcj lvsn
" Well, I take 'em nil. Put down four
-li.d : l ie, an ! mi ! I. in ui 11..!!, puid
tor ny v iinam iunew,
1 was llcai. U r r-'rai k n it at his prnposi-
tion to nav for un s'i.i', lav .o . i know thai
Hilly .:. "lit it as a token of friend-hip, and
he would have teen hurt if I had refused to
let him do me this Rivorj but at the yrtejt
peeled announcement of my n;me as a com
petitor lr beef, lit least one hundred miles
from I he place of my residence. 1 was pre
paid! for a challenge from Billy to some l
his. neighbors for a pritate match upon ine;
but .not lor this.
I therefore protested against bis putting
in lor me, and urgou every reason to uis
suade hire from it without pounding his
feelings.
wPut it down," said Bilry, i:h tl,e au
thority of an K npornr, and with a look that
spoke volumes intelligible to every by-sian-dei
"i ckon I don't know what I'm about.'1
Then wheeling off, aid AfJttering m an un
der nelf-confidcnt tone " Dang old Roper"
continued he, " if he don't knock that erOMf
to the north corner of- creation and back u
gaifl before a sat can lick her fool."
Had I I ecu the king of the cat tribe, thev
could no) have regarded me with more cun
out attention than did the whole company
from thifl momeHt Mvery inch of me w;is
examined with the nic.st scrutiny ; and some
plainly expressed by their looks, that they
narl never taken mo for such a I ite. I saw no
alternative but to throw myself upon a third
chance sin!; fat though by the rubs of the
spori 1 would have been allowed to shoot by
proxy, I, v ail the rules of (rood breeding 1
was hound to shoot in person, li would
have been nnpardohnhle, to uis ipp int lite
expectation which had I ocar.r ad mi
Unforttinatoly too, forma, tho matched dif
fered in one respect from ih.ise which I had
been in the habit ofaUendingin my youi
erd. ys. In olden times (he contest was
carried on chiefly with fM jnrnt, a generic
way I'll creep into that bull-eye s n fitc'
' You'd better "rqp into your hind-sight"
said Darby. Meulv7ied and tired.
" .V pretty too : sifcl! Meil," slid Mi".
"Yes. a blamed SiodJaVbol! " !:iid a seexaid.
Well done .Mcnl!" said a ihinl.
1 v as reiorce! when on" of tho company
inquired - Where is itf" for I c-uld hard
ly bc.icvethey w ref amdittg tltese ren'iark
upon the evidence of their senses. "Jits'
ontheriht baud side of tho bull's-eye, "
was. the reply.
1 looked with sli ihe power fif my eyes;
but was unabioto discover the least change
in die surf ice rjflhe paper. Their report,
however, was frue 1 much keener is1 the
vision of l praolljed than an unnracticcd
eye.
The nel in order was Hiram Baugb.
Hiram was likoH-irifc race horses which I
havo seen he wal too good, not to contend
for uVery piizo, and too good lor nothing cv
ur to win onr.
fclitlcinen," said he, as he came to
(ho nmrti, - 1 don I .-av that I'll win heel;
Imt iV my piece don't blow, I'li-at the pn
,cf; or I e .-:,', ;. , p: to .! . jr. ,. i, : , .
lieve ni;. r . .'I , jiOwtier ire u !
powder. geii!!e:ii( n I hooglit it tkut;. (tion.)
Zeb. D.igg. :. and gin him three q i:irter
a dollar a pound I it but it, are n t wliatl
.-.ill good p iwder, gentlemen; but if old
i luck-killer lairns it clear, the I ov v i call
Hiram Baerh eals paper, or coon - migli v
near it."
Well, ftre away, ".-aid Mealy," an!
be to:i,nud Z"!i. D ig:.ret; and vmn
ij .i I. .-1. i
wnerncu v oe, : icK-killer. and ..ur po'.v -
dtT horn tnl shot pouch to boot! 11 .v
ong you "'.vine stand thtir talking 'fore vou
ihoiitt?
' Nejor niufll, said Hiram, 'i.1 can talk a
even! Which seemed tome better calculated falling nfie, and I adopted this modefdeter-
I i 'Hwu? a iNiM ii.iu cui : m,.lng to tire as swai as the iMght came on
out the lower uii.'le of theWiud, directly j a ,ne w, i,c dm mot id, htwA or no bead.
own right line with tho efnae. Arcordinrlv 1 cunitnameed knreriruT old
i'liree or four followed him without bet- Siap-stick ;"but in spiteef-'all my muscular
tering his si; t; .ill of whom, however, with ;
one exeep ton, "eat the pifpcr.
It MW entM to Sjiivcy's turn. There
was nothing teaarkable in bis person or
inaiin.-r. He tjok bis place, lowered his
rillo slowlv from a pcrpeudicular, until it
came on a line with ibe mark held it there
like a vi e for a moment, and fi od.
Pretty criorou.t, but nothing killing I i?s 0y his 4 "said Billy," 1 know
yet," said Billy Curlew, as he learned the him."
place o: ,',)ivcV ball. u It mav be f.,Bj - j,njd tne j, u jj Jt
uve s nan n art just broken tho upper ; ,x,ks mightily like yearnest to a man up
p iv. ers, she was strictfy obedient to the
'aWsot gravitation, and came down with a
uniformity accelerated velocity. Before I
could arrest her downward flight, she had
no! only passed the target, but was making
rapid encroachmen tm my toes.
" WhVjhe'nlhe weakest man in the arms
I ever ,-ccd, said one in a halt arhwpe-
an jle of (be diamond; be.i'ing Pirmby about
half iLs width.
A few mnrn chot in -diW ttum.u...
" .jini, -" rfui UkiUt;
nothing remarkable, hi ought us to Bill? I slrnf ener:
i nrlcw. Uniy stepped out w ith much con
fidence; and Lrought the Soap-stick to an
order, while he deliberately rolled up his
nice res. Had Rodged Billy's-chance of
FUCCesa from the l)ks of his mb), I should
l....: i : i ri. . ?K
a.in ii n ampowssa. i lie siock: oi
Soap-stfek --eemed to havo been made with
a case-knil'e;and had it been, the tool would
have been but a poor apology for its clumsy
appearance. An Bttgur hole in the breech,
served flir a grease bov. a cotlon string as
sisted a single screw in holding on the lock
and Ike thimbles were made, one of brass,
one of iron, and one of tin.
" Where's M irk. Spivy's luTllet?" cried
out Biily to the judee-, as he finished rolling
ii hs sleeves.
" About ihrcc riuarters of an inch from
a f run
I now, of course, determined to reverse
imw.le of tiring, and put lorthbll my phy-
;ies to. ljistick to the mark.
ani
on
i i i . . t i' i
eyeo? smeiKy mile ieitoJ.n(liiig a si, mil
poney, and bearing on liur shoulder a long
licavy rifle, which, judging from its looks, 1
should say Hi.td done service in Morgan's
corps. t
" Good owning sir! "said I, reining up my
horse as 1 came beside him.
" I low goes it. stranger?" said he. with a
tune of independence and self confidence,
that waked my (".iriesity to know a little of
his character
u (doing driving?" enquired I.
"Not exactly, replied he, surveying my
horse, with a quizzical smile, "1 havein
been driving by myself for ayear-or two,
end my nose has got so bad lately I can't
carry a cold trail without houndi to help me
Alone, and without hounds, as be was, the
Question was rather a silly one; but it an
swered the purpose for w hich it was put,
which was only todraw him into a emu cr
eation, and 1 proceeded to make as decent a
retreat as I could.
"IdidV know," said I, "but that you
were soina to meet the huntsmen, or coing
to your stand. "
" Ah, sure enough, " rejoined he, " that
fnout bo a bee, us the old woman said when
she killed a wasp. It seems to me I ouuht
to know you. "
" Well, if you ought, why opnV you?"
"What moiil your name ho?"
"It might bo any thing," said I, wilh bor
rowed wit; for I knew my man, and knew
what kind of conversation would please him
most.
Well what is it then ?t'
"It is Hall," said I, but you know it
might as well have been anything else."
" Pretty digging, " said he, " I find you're
not the fool I took you to he ; so here's to a
better acquaintance with you."
"With all my heart," returned I; but
you must be as clever as I've been, and
give mo your name."
" To ho sure I will my old coon take ii
take it, and welcome. Any thing else a-
bout me you d hko to havo. "
" No;" said 1," there's nothing clso about
you worth uaving."
" Oh, yes there is stranger ! Do you sec
this? " holding up his ponderous rillo with
an ease that astonished mo. "If you will
go with me to tho shooting match, and sec
me knock out the IiuWs-eye v ilh her a few
times,you'll agree the old SoapJSikk't worth
Bomeiningwlion billy Uurlow puts lussliuul
uer to ner. "
This short sentence was replete with in
formation to mo. It taught mo that my
companion was Billy Curlcrf: that he was
gomg to a Shooting match; that he colled
tn jwiii x
your c
snots
1 soon discovered that .the father had eat-
irgrapes,and the kon'e teeth were on
p'i Jv'k- "aaajeaif ff bsn' r 'Ui i ' icrrui
how; but you always makes out asifyo
'Cotton! I
mint
i
in those (lavs.
an cage; tor uniy was post as incongioty
obstinate, in his belief of my dexterity with
a rifle, as his lather had been before him.
We soon reachod the place appointed for
tho shooting match. It went by the name
of Sims' Cross Roads; because here two
roads intersected each other, and because,
from the time that the first had been hod oril
Archibald Sims had resided there. Archi-
ad been a Ju-tiee of the Peace in his day;,
ind where is the man of his age in Geor-
gia who has nol?) cmscqaBn ly he was cal
led Sqmrc hiius. It is the custom in tins
Stale, when a man has once acquired atiiio
civil or military, to force it upon him as long
as he lives; hence the coerlless number oi
titled persunagea Who are introduced in
these sketches.
We stopped at the Squire's door. Billy
hastily dismounted, '.rave the shake of the
hnnH which he h id IvAnn n oiel inllv res(r-
ving for a mile back; and, leading me up to
the Squire, thus introduced tne) "Uncle
Archy, this is Lyman II ill; and for all you
sec him in these fine clothes, he's a twinge
cat a darn si;;ht cleverer fellow thin lie
looks to I.e. Wait till you see him lift the
old 3onpstick, and di.iw ahead upon the
iiirs-eye. iou gwme to see inn nere io
ly .1 m'tsay nothing about it. "
" Well, Mr. S.vin;e-c:i'," said the Squire
here's to ft heller acquaintance with you,"
offering mo his h and.
How goes it Unclfl Archy," said I, ta
king his hand warmly : (for I am always free
tad easy with those who are so with mo;
and in ibis course I rarely lail to please)
" How's, the old woman? "
"Eeid," said the Squire, chuckling,
" there you're too hud tor mo; lor she died
two and twenty years ago. and I haven't
heard a word bom her since.
a Wfiat! and you never married again?'
"Never, as (dud's my Judge!" (a solemn
isscrvutiim truly, -upon so light a subject.)
Well, that's p it my fault "
" No, nor it's not mine neither, " said the
Squire.
Here we were intevrupteii ny ine cry oi
another ltanecv Snidle " Hello here '. All
you as w ish to put iu lor the shooting mulch
"come on here! fortheputt'n in's riddy to
begin."
About sixty persona, including mere spec
tators had collected; tho most of whom were
more or less obedient to the call of Mealy
Wbitecotton for that was the name of the
self-constituted eouiinaiidor-in-chicL Some
hastenod, and some loitored, as thoy desired
to be first or last on the list ; for thoy shoot in
the order in which their uamcs ure cntorod.
embraced three
description:) ol fire-arms Jmlian-iraJn.
(n lorn.', cheap, but sometimes excellent
kind .ifg m.'hit liioiliHkiiain used to' send
jki'lici 'ro'ilcwillipiiaus,) the hire
Mud Siof9Wpro::erl si
lc I. Rifdos were however, always permit
ted to compete with thern, under equitable
restrictions. They were, that they should
be fired oil-hand, vvhilc tire shot-guns were
allowed;! rest, tho divncc being equal; or
t lint the distance should Jie ouo hufidre
yards lor the rillo. to sjlbo sh -t- mi
the mode of firing bci
1) it this was a mute
mil tnese arc uy tar
!nh()i
the tlie hk
i"
is lar-
Uij u-.iw i. i.ihi..h aK r..-, .1 ..1 .
mm hi:m , CI)
must CAiainion
at this tinjM
Most of the competitors fire at the same
targe'; which is usually a board from nine
inches to n foot wide, cluured on one "side as
hi ick as it can be made by fire without im
pairing materially the uniformity ol is sur
fare; en the darkened Of which is pet
a square piece ol v. lute paper, which
trer or smaller, according to the distance at
which ii is to I e placed by the marksmen.
Thit is almost invariably sixty ysjfrb, and
for it, the paper is reduced to about two in
ch's and a hall square. Uut ol the centre
ol it is cut a rhombus ot ah.gt the width ot
an inch, rtfeasured diagonally this is
bulTs-eyc or diamond, as the mari
choose to call lU in ihe centre of this
cross. B it every man is permitted
his tui'cei to his own taste; and accordir
some remove one-fourth of the paper,
tin from the centre of tho snutap to the
two lower corners; so as to leaver a large
anle more or less; but it is rarely the case
all are satisfied with one of these figures.
The beef is divided into five prizes, or,
as thev are commonly termed, five quarters
the bide and tallow counting as one. For
several years after ihe revolutionary war,
a sixth was added; the lead which was shot
in the match. This was the pri.e of the
. . i . i j e i'.n..
HtXtu OpSl Bitot j anil ii nseu io nu carciuuv
extracted from the board, or tree, in which
ii was lodged, and nferwards reinouldored.
But this grew out of the exigency of the
limes, and has, 1 believe, been long since
abandoned.
The three mastor shots, and rivals, w ere
Muses Fifmby, Larkiri Spivey and Billv
tJurow to whom was added, upon this oej
eiision. by common consent, and with awtul
f'urchodiui's your humble servant.
Tho tur 'et was fixed at an elevation of
about, three hundred leet Ir.r.n the ground and
die jtidget (Uuptaiu turner ami quiru
Porter) K.k liieirstands by i!,j lined by a
i. nit half ihe sncctntors.
The first n-imo on tho catalogue waa
Mealv Whiiecotton.
Alealv stepped out, rifle in hand, and toea
the mark. His rifle was about three inches
longer than hmiseii, nnu near m in vii
thickness to make the remark of Darby
I, ,i.i ns Iib. stepped out. tolerably up-
nnpriotc -" Hore coinos the carn-stock add
Ujc suckel ! " said Darby.
little toe; hut that's nothing here goes!
Hirayjt assumed the figure of a note of
irftorrogaiion tsk a long tight and fireil.
"I've ont paper," said Hiram, at the
crack ol H10 JfUD, without looking or sfeni
ingtolook towards the targot. " Buck-kii-ler
made a clear racket. Where is itgen
ilemen?" " You're just between Mealy and ;';.c dia
iiiond,' was tho reply.
"1 said Pd eat paper, and I've done it;
haven't I uontlemeri?"
" And 'spoee you have!" said Mealy,
" what do that amount tot You'll not win
beef, and never did."
"Be thai us it mount be, I've beat Meal
'Cotton mighty easy; and the boy you call
Hiram Batigh are able to do it."
" And v hat do that 'mo mt to? V.'li the
devil am'i able to beat Men
no h
weregwiue to keep 'em makin' crosscu for
you conftiant, and then donothin' but " eat
I'.tpcr" nt last-; and dial's a long w.iv from
eatlhg href, 'cording to Meal. "Cotton's jo
ti uis, as you call him- "
Simoot) Stow was now called on.
"Oh Lord!" exclaimed two or three;
" Now wft have it. It'll tuko him as Ion
lo shoot aA it would lake S pii.e Djbbins to
run round a trade ot land. "
" (iood-by boys," said B b Martin.
" Win r. you going Bol) ? "
" Going to gather in my crop Pi I bo back
agin though by the time Sime. Stow shoots.'"
Simeon was used to all this, and there
fore it did not disconcert him in the least.
He went oil' arul brought his own target, and
set it up with his own hand.
tie then wiped out Ms rifle rubbed the
pan wio ins ii.it drew a piee ol t.v.;
through ibe touch-hole with his wipes fil
led his charger with ''real care noured the
powder niio the riho w ith equal caution
fehoveil in with his ringer the two or throe va
grant grains that lodged round the mouth of
his piece took out a handful of bullets
looked them illoverearefullv selected one
witbout Haw itr wrinkle drew out his patch
ing found the most even part of it spi g
open Ihe grease box in the breech of his n
ilc; took up just so much grease distribu
ted it with great equality over the chosen
part of his patching laid it over the muscle
of his rillo, grease side down placed
his ball upon it pressed it a little then
took it up and turned the neck a littlo more
endicularlv downwards placed his
fc-hau lie on it--iust buried it in the
uih of die nfie cut olf the redundant
latching just above the bullet looked at it,
and shook his head, in token ihat he hud cut
off too muob or t.Mi littl, no one knew which
sent oowu too lhiii measured tno con
tcutsof his o;u,i with his first and second
lingers, on ihe protruding part of the ram
rod shook his head again, to signify ihe re
was too much or too little powder primed
carelully placed an arched picco of tin
over tin; hiud sight to shade it took his
place got d friend to hold his hat over the
fore-sight to shade it took a verv long sigh:
fired and did'nt even cat the paper
the crass," was the reply.
" W..II, clear tho way! the Soap-stick's
coming, and she'll be along in there among
'em presently.?
Billy now planted himself a straddle, like
The e(f .rt silenced Billy, and gave tongue
to all his companions. I had just strengUi
enough to tuis'er Soap-stick's obstinate
proclivity, and consequently my nerves be
gan to exhibit palpable signs of distress with
her first imperceptible movement upward.
A trciubliug commenced iu my arms in
crcastji and extended rapidly to my body
and lower extremities; so that by the time
that I brought Soan-etick up to the mark, I
w is shaking from head to too', exactly like
a nttfl under the continued action of a strong
galvanic battery. In the meantime my
friends givo vent to their fjelings feely.
' I swear poin' hlauk, " cried one, " that
man cau'i shoot. "
"He used to shoot well," said another,
" but can't now nor never could.
" You'd b t cr git away from 'bout that
mark!" bawled a third, " for I'll be doddur
ned if Broadcloth don't give some of you the
dry gripes if you s and too close thare."
" t auger s got the pecdoddles," said
inverted V -hot forward his left hip a fourth, with humorous gr.ivity
hia body hack to an angle of about forty-five
i grees with the plane of the horison
brought his cheek down close to the breech
of old Soap-r IV k, and fixed her on Ibe mark
with an un'rembling ban;
long, and ihe swelling muscles of his arm
led ine to believe that he was lessening his
chance of success, with every half second
that he kep' it Burdened with his ponderous
r:tl"; but it neither nagged nor wavered mi
ni 9 ifip-atick undo her report.
" Where am 1?" said Billy, as the smoke
rose from before his eve.
i.
Am,
" You're jhsl touched the cross on the low.
cr : ide," wa.- the reply from one of the
Judge.
1 was hfratd I wa drawing my bead gfl
I ' fitters aiii Billy. Now i,ynxtn,
you see w hat the Soap-stick Can do. Take
her, and shaW the bo s how you used to do
w hen you wai a boy. "
1 begged to reserve my shot to the last;
pleading, father soph 1st ically, that it was iu
point of tact,' one of Billyh shots. My plea
was rather indulged toad sustained, and
tho marksmen who had taken more than
one shot, commenced ti e second round.
This round was a manifest itqproveihent
upon the, first. The cross was driven three
times ; once by Spivey, once by Birmby,
and once by n i leu a parsonage than Mea
ly VYhitcco'-ten, whom chance seemed to
favor for this time, merely that he might
retaliate upon Hiram Baugtltand the Bails
eye was diffijured out of all slnpc.
The third and fourth round were shot.
Billy discharged his last thot which lefi the
rights of parties thus: Bill Curlew first and
foar'bdioi -e, Spivey seem, o Pinnby third,
and Whitecotion fifth. Some of my readers
in iy perhaps be curious to learn, how adis
I ine lion comes tn be made between several,
all of w hom drive the cross. The distinc
tion is perfectly natural and equitable.
Threads are stretched from the unaffoctcd
parts of the onco in '..secting lines, by
means of which ihe original position of the
cross is precisely ascertained. E tch buiiet
holo being nicely pegged up nsit is made it
is easy i ascertain its' circumference. To
this, 1 believe, they usually, iftiot invafia
bly, measure, where none of the balls touch
the cross; but if the cross be driven, they
measure from it to tho centre of tho bullet
hew. To make a draw shot, therefore, be
Kveen two, who drive the cross, it is ne
cesary that the cen're of both balls should
pass directly through the croas a thing that
v cry rarely happens.
The Uiie alone remained to shoot. Billv
wiped out his rifi i carefully, loaded her to
the top ot his skill, awd handed her to me
Now," sail! lie, " Lymtindraw a fine be id,
but not too line, for Soap-stick bears up her
ball well. Take care and don't touch the
trigger, until you'vegot your bead; for she's
syring-irigger'd, and goes mightily easy;
but you hold her to the place you want her,
and if she dou'i go, then dang old Iopor."
I took hold of Brian etiesa und lapsed im
mediately into the most hopeless despair. 1
l! he had bullets enough iu his; gun, he'd
shoot a ring round tho bull's-eye big as a
spinning-wheel,'" said a fifth.
As soon as 1 found that Soap-stick was
His sight was j high enough, (for I made no furthcr.usc of
the sights than to ascertain this fact.) 1 pul
led trigger, and off she went. I have al
ways found that tte most creditable way of
relieving niysjlf of derision, was to height
en i. nr. self as much as possible. It is a
gi u i plan in all circles, aiid by fir the best
tthj'h can be adopted among the plain
rough fanners of the country. I according
ly b ought old Soap-stick to an order, with
tin air of triumph gave Billy a wink, and,
of served, " Now Blv's your ne to malm
your forhiucf Bot 'em two to tne that le
t kjMM k-d out thecross."
My piece was badlv loadned," an id am sure I never hanolod ns heavy a gun iu
Simeon, when he learned the pi ice of his all my hie. "Why Billy," said I, "yoi
boll. little mortal you! what do you use such a
H Oh. vnn did'nt rnlro nan. " said Monlv.4 -'till as lllis for? "
" No man can shoot that's in such a hurrv I ' "l-1 ' 'he bulls-eye yonder!" snid Bill
as you is. I'd hardly got to sleep 'fore I
hoard the crack of the gun. "
Tho next wi.: Moses Pirmby. Ho was
a tall, slim man. of rather sallow complex
ion; and if is n lingular fact, that though
prvuably no part ot tho world is moro heal
diy than the m nintain ms region of Georgia
the niixintainoois have not generally robust
frames or fine couijdexions; jhey are, how
ever, almost inexhaustible by tod.
Moses kept us mt long in suspense. His
rifle was already charged., arid be fixed it
upon tho target, with a steadiness of nerve
and aim thut was astonishing to ine, and
ata ruling to all tho rest. A few seconds,
aud the rejiort of his rillo broke the dcath-
UKa suence which prevailed
w No great harm done yet, " said Spivey,
" True " said I, hut I can't shoot her,
it is impossible. ?' it
" Co along, you old coon ! " said Billy, " I
see what you're at" iniiinating that all
this was merely to make the coming sho',
the more remarkable "Daddy's little. boy
don't shoot any thing but the old Soap-stick
here to-day, 1 know."
The judges, 1 knew, were becoming im
patient, and withal my situation was grow
ing more embarrassing every second ; so 1
e'en resolved to try the Soap-stick without
further parley.
I stepped out, and the most intense in;
terest was excited all around me aud it
flashed like electricity around the target,
as I judged from tho anxious gaze of all in
that direction.
"Nat Pl bedod blamed if I do,'" said
Billy, " but I'll bet you two to one you haint
hit the plank." '
"Ah, Billy," said I, "I was joking about
betting, (or I never bet; nor would I havo
you to bto; indeed I do not feul exactly rights
ainji.t shooting for beef; for it is a species of
Taming at last; but Ml say this much if
that cro-s is'ut knocked out, I'll never shoot
for beef again as long as I live. "
"By dod," said' Mealy Wbitecotton,
yea II lose no great things at that.
' Well," said I, I reckon I know a life
tie about-wobliug. Is it possible Billy
man who shoots as well as vou do, ne
practised shooting with the double wabble?
It's the greatest take in, in the world, when
vou learn to drive the cross with it. Ano
ther sort for getiiicj t.ots upon, to the dropwi
i mht, wfth a single wa hble ! And the Soop-
k s the very yarn lor it,"
"Tell 'you what stranger," said one, 1
" vou're too hard for us here. We never
Aeorno' that sort o' shoot'n in these parts."
" Well," returned I, "you've seen it now
and I'm the boy that can do it."
The judges were now approaching with
ihe target, and a singular combination of
circumstances had kept all my party in ut
ter ignorance of the result of my shot.
Thoso about the ttfrget had been prepared
by Biiiy Curlew for u great shot from mo;
their expectati ms had received assurances
from the courtesy w hich had been extended
to me; and nothing had happened disap
point them, but the single caution Bbom
i gain ' the "dry gripes,''' which wasJPlil.e
ly to have been given in irony as in earnest:
for my ag aiics under the weight of the Soap
suck, were either imperceptible to thein at
die distance of sixty yurds, oxbcing visible
were taken as tho flourishosof un expert
who wished to " astonish the natives."
The other party did not think the direction
of my ball worth the trouble of a question;
or if they did, my airs and harangues h.id
put the thought to flight hctore it wa deliv-
cred. Consequently they were all trans
tL';ed with astonishment when tho judges
presented the target to them, and gravely
observed " It's only second best ufter all
the fuss." "Second best!" exclaimed I,
with uncontrollable transports. The whole
of my party rushed to the real targot to have
the evidence of their senses before they
would believe the report: but most marvel
lous fortune de-reed that it should be truo.
Their incredibility and astoni.-lunent were
most fortunate for me; for they blinded my
hearers to tho feelings with which the ex
clamation was uttered, and allowed me
sufficient time to prep :re myself for making
the best use of what I had said before, with
a very different object.
" Second best!" reiterated 1, with an air
of despondency, as tho company returned
from the targot to me. " Second best only !
Here Billy, my son, take" the old Soap stick,'
life
de!J
This word wat entirely new to mej but like
most, imot alt Worilt,in use anniii; the common
people, It is dflnbtluss a legitimate EnglMi word,
or rather a compound of two wordu, tbc lait a
little corrupted, and wiu very aptly applied in
this instance. It is a compound ol " "
MTp with one eye, aud " daddk, " to totter or
waiW.